Dallington School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Dallington School 8 Dallington Street, London EC1V 0BW

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2A(1), 2A(1)(d), 2A(1)(f) and 2A(1)(g)  The previous standard inspection in December 2021 found that leaders had not implemented the statutory guidance for relationships and sex education (RSE). They had not published an RSE policy or consulted with parents and carers on the provision for RSE. Parents had not been informed of their right to withdraw their children from the sex education aspects of the RSE programme. Inspectors also found that there were some inconsistencies in teachers’ implementation of the RSE curriculum.  Leaders have produced an RSE policy. It meets the requirements of the statutory guidance. It is published on the school’s website and hard copies are available at the school office. It makes clear that parents have the right to withdraw their children from the sex education aspects of RSE. In February 2022, leaders invited parents to face-to-

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Main inspection findings

face and online consultation events about the content of the RSE curriculum.  Leaders have delivered training to staff on how to teach RSE effectively. There is an ongoing programme of teacher support. Leaders check that implementation is consistent and effective.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy takes account of the latest statutory guidance.  A copy of the policy is available on the school’s website.  These requirements of the independent school standards are met. Paragraph 9 and 9(c)  At the time of the previous inspection, leaders did not keep a record of the sanctions imposed on pupils for serious misbehaviour.  Leaders addressed this omission straight after the last inspection. They kept paper-based records of sanctions. Recently, new electronic systems were put in place to record all

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Main inspection findings

concerns, including misbehaviours, actions taken and sanctions imposed when relevant. Leaders analyse these records to check for any emerging patterns, and they act on their findings.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are now met  The school complies with the requirements of the independent school standards in this part. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(3)  At the time of the last inspection, leaders did not ensure that all required pre- employment checks on staff were completed before their appointment.  Several leaders and safeguarding administration staff have undertaken training in safer recruitment. The school’s single central record is up to date. It records evidence that all statutory pre-employment checks have been carried out per the latest statutory guidance.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  Since the previous inspection, the proprietor and governors have taken decisive action to address the previously unmet standards. These are now all met. They appointed a substantive headteacher. The proprietor is routinely on site, and governors now visit the school regularly to check for themselves on the daily workings of the school. They have instituted several systems for holding leaders to account for all aspects of the school’s work.  The proprietor and governors have joined various national organisations to support them in keeping up to date with the latest statutory guidance and requirements. They have also accessed training to improve their knowledge and effectiveness. In addition, they have commissioned an external independent consultant to audit, annually, the school’s compliance with the independent school standards. These mechanisms are supporting

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Main inspection findings

leaders to ensure that the school consistently meets all statutory requirements.  The independent school standards in these paragraphs are now met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor– – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools, – 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and – 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that– – 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(3) The checks referred to in sub-paragraphs (2)(c) and (except where subparagraph (4) applies) (2)(e) must be completed before a person’s appointment.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £12,450 to £15,660

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School details

Email address admin@dallingtonschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1 to 3 December 2021

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection took place in December 2021, when the school was judged to be requires improvement. Some of the independent school standards were not met.  After the last inspection, the proprietor appointed an interim headteacher for the spring and summer terms. A substantive headteacher took up the post in September 2022. There have also been some recent changes to the members of the governing body appointed by the proprietor.  In September 2022, the school introduced mixed-age classes. There is one class for Years 1 and 2, another for Years 3 and 4 and one for Years 5 and 6.  Leaders do not make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice. The school was asked to submit an action plan after its last standard inspection in December 2021. The action plan was judged by Ofsted as not acceptable in July 2022. The school was notified of this outcome by the Department for Education (DfE) in September 2022.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within parts 1, 3, 4 and 8 are now met.  The inspector met with the proprietor and the headteacher. He spoke with a group of pupils and met with a group of staff. He checked the single central record of vetting

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Information about this inspection

checks. The inspector also considered a range of documentation about safeguarding, behaviour and the school’s RSE curriculum.

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Inspection team

David Radomsky, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Inspection team

excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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